Friday Harbor converted three straight second quarter La Conner turnovers into touchdowns, securing a convincing 41-0 NW2B grid triumph at Whittaker Field on Thursday.

Quarterback Whiley McCutcheon threw a pair of scoring tosses to Triston Bremer and ran for another TD – all in the final 5:14 of the opening half –to break open what had been a closely fought defensive battle in the league opener for both teams.

With the win, Friday Harbor improved to 2-1 overall. La Conner, fell to 0-2 after a 28-12 setback to 2A Evergreen of Seattle.

The team was minus four starters, including playmaker Tommy Murdock.

Murdock, a state hurdles champion, was out sick. Other key players missed to attend funeral services for revered Swinomish Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Chief Joe Bailey.

The Braves were down just one score early in the second frame when a low snap in punt formation turned the ball over to Friday Harbor at the La Conner 25.

McCutcheon then marshalled a short five-play scoring march capped by a 14-yard TD strike to Bremer. McCutcheon followed with a two-point conversion run that extended the lead to 14-0.

On La Conner’s ensuing series, the Braves’ fumble on their 22-yard line. McCutcheon threw another touchdown pass on the next play. The extra point made it 21-0.

A promising drive, set up by a Logan Burks kickoff return to the Braves’ 40, was thwarted by yet another turnover. After quarterback Ivory Damien scrambled for 21 yards and C.J. Edwards gained another six, the Braves fumbled again. Six plays later McCutcheon blasted in from two yards out, making it 27-0 at the break.

The Wolverines added a pair of second half scores. The capper was a McCutcheon 64-yard sweep around left end with 1:01 to play in the third quarter.

La Conner did have some highlights to build on ahead of the Braves’ league test at Coupeville this Friday.

Damien connected in the second half on pass completions of 12 and 25 yards to Edwards and an 18-yarder to freshman Jimbo Bobb. Kenai Zimmerman reeled off a 13-yard first down run off left tackle in the final stanza. Damien placed a punt at the Friday Harbor one-yard-line after the team’s final series stalled at the Wolverines’ 29.

La Conner and Friday Harbor will meet again Oct. 13 on San Juan Island.

The Braves are aiming to make plays like that on a more consistent basis starting with their Sept. 22 date with the Wolves.

La Conner head coach Charlie Edwards’ charges will face a Coupeville team making its NW2B debut. The Wolves opened the season with two non-league losses.